Multiple purpose card table accessory



may 21, ama, M. SKINNER 2,400,610

MULTIPLE PURPOSE CARD TABLEACCESSORY Filed April 1, 1944 3 sheets-sheet 1 Inventor Mor/ej Sfr/"22723 7',

v 9 4 By M60 May 2, 194i@ Y lSKINNER v 2,400,610

MULTIPLE PURPOSE CARD TABLE ACCESSORY Filed April l, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor Ma/yf @fit/amsn,

May `21, 1940. M SKINNER' 2,400,610

MULTIPLE PURPOSE CARD TABLE ACCESSORY Filed April l, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented May Z1, 1946 MULTIPLE PURPOSE CARD TABLE ACCESSORY Morley Skinner, Kokomo, Ind.

Application April 1, 1944, Serial No. 529,117

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a novel and improved multiple purpose card table accessory in the form of a compact and convenient structural assemblage, and the purpose of the invention is to provide a simple and expedient unitary device which is made up of selectively usable companion parts.

More specifically, the construction, as a whole, is in the nature of a sectional or duplex box, that is, an arrangement which' is characterized by individual tray-forming boxes-these being disposed in separable end-to-end relation and closed by an individual lid, the latter when `detached for use, serving as a score-pad backing or base member,

In carrying out the principles of the invention I have found it both expedient and practicable to fashion the individual box sections to function as trays, each including a removable glass or equivalent lining, whereby each section may be conveniently employed for storing a deck of cards therein on the one hand, or which may be alternatively usable as an ash tray.

Stated with greater particularity, the preferred embodiment of the invention comprises box or tray sections, these having aligned sockets in meeting end portions and said sockets being adapted to accommodate removable pencils, the pencils bridging the space between the adjacent ends of the sections to serve as connecting dowels, as it were.

Other features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure l is a top plan view 'of the twin or companion box sections or units illustrating the same adjoined in end-to-end relation, the `cover or lid being removed.

Figure 2 is a side or edge elevational View with the lid in closing position.

Figure 3 is an inverted plan view of the removable lid or cover, illustrating the manner in which it is employed, on the card table, as a convenient scoring pad appliance.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional View of the complete box assemblage depicted in Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of one of the separable units or sections, this to bring out the particular details of said section.

Figure 6 is a transverse or cross sectional view on the plane of the line 5 6 of Figure 3.

Referring now to the drawings by distinguishing reference characters it will be seen that the box structure is actually a twin-box arrangement.

That is to say, the body portion is made up of' duplicate companion box sections or units A and' 'ure 5, it will be seen that the unit there depicted is constructed of appropriate material and shape, preferably, rectangular. It embodies a bottom E, an inner or front wall l having a clearance notch la, an outer or rear wall 8 and intervening side walls 9. The walls are comparatively heavy and may be conveniently described as blocks. Thus, the walls l and 8 are suitably secured to the opposite ends of said blocks 9.

In construing the article seen in Figure 5 from -the standpoint of patentable novelty and also from the standpoint of functional and alternate utility, it may be either a box unit or section or may be conveniently referred to as a tray, since it is more of a tray when in use. In fact, the walls 6, l, 8 and 9 define a receptacle for a removable glass or equivalent tray lil. When this is empty, it serves as a holder for a deck of cards (not shown). When the cards are removed it then becomes an ash tray. The notches Il and I2 serve as seats for cigars, cigarettes and the like. The blocks 9 are provided with parallel sockets I3 which serve conveniently for reception of pencils, that is, parallel removable pencils I4 (see Figure 5). The pencils are in effect dowel pins and, therefore, when the two units A and B are brought into end-to-end relation, the pencils project in the respective pockets or sockets and this is suilicient to hold the two sections in alignment.

The lid C has a cross-strip I5 at one end which is formed with a bead or tongue, this to removably seat itself in the retention and assembly groove i6 formed in the end wall 8 of the box section A (see Figure 5). The single lid spans the open top of both box sections A and B. The 0pposite or right hand end of the lid is provided with a headed pin or the like Il? which constitutes la keep-er for the latch I3, the latter pivoted on the right-hand end of the box B.

The lid C serves not only as a closure but as a backing member or base as brought out in Figures 3 and 6. In Figure 3 it will be seen that the lid is provided with parallel grooves ll which function as receptacles for pencils.

Y equivalent clip There is a substantially U-shaped Yrnetal or I8Y at one end which serves as a keeper for the adjacent end ofthe score pad I9. The opposite end of the 'pad is fastened in place by a strap 20, this being riveted or secured at one end as at 2l and having a snap fastener 22 at the opposite end. The strap can be elastic to facilitate securely holding the sheets of the pad in place. The two parts IB and 20 constitute convenient keepers or retention elements for the pad, enabling the same to be re newed with ease and facility.

From a commercial point of view the device is a card table accessory. When the units A and B are not in use, as it were, decks of cards are placed in the removable glass traysY Il). The pencils ill are slipped into their respective sockets and theiparts A and B are joined in compact and convenient relationship as seen in Figure 4, for example. Then the single lid is placed in position as shown, the'padbeing thus confined Within the limits of the structure. The clearance notches 1a serve to accommodate the median portion of the pad as brought out in Figure 4.

Considering the invention purely from a structural standpoint, irrespective of functional usages, it is a twin box, that is, a box structure made up of companion duplicate sections A and B, with a lid latched in place at one end, and removably held in place by tongue and groove arrangement at the opposite end. The two sections A and B are maintained in alignment by dowelfpins tting'into the respective aligned sockets or' pockets in the marginal portions ofthe boxes Aand B. It is evident that I desire the invention to be construed from` (1.) a standpoint of utility as a multiple purpose card table accessory, g on the' on'e hand or 2) as a general utility box, discountingy whether the box is used for cards, ash trays, or other purposes.

It is thought nthat persons skilled inv the art to( which. the invention relates willbe able to obtain: a vclear understandingfof the invention after consideringv the description in connection with. the drawings. Therefore", a more lengthy. de-

scription is regarded as unnecessary.

Minor changes inthe shape, size and arrangement of details coming within the eld 0f invention claimed may be resorted to in actual practice, if desired. Y

Y Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a box structure of the class described, a

i pair of duplicate shallow box units arranged in longitudinal alignment with adjacent ends in abutting relationship, the adjacent end portions of the box units being provided on opposite mar-` ginal sides with aligned sockets, dovvel pins having their opposite ends arranged in said sockets and bridging the space between the abutting ends to assemble the two units, and a single lid structure for the open tops of said box units, said lid having tongue and groove detachable connection at one end with the corresponding box unit, the opposite endof the lid being provided witha keeper pin, and the adjacent box unitY Y having a latch engageable with said pin.

2. In a box structure of the class described, a

pair of duplicate openrtop shallow box. units arranged in longitudinal alignment with adjacent ends in abutting relationship, the end portions oi said adjacent end of the box units being provided -on opposite marginal sides with aligned sockets, bodily insertable and removable dowel pins having their opposite ends arranged in ap-v propriate ones of said sockets and bridging the space between the abutting ends. to assemble said units, a single lid structure for the opentops ofV said box units, and removable trays individually and conveniently arranged in the respective box units.

3. In a card table box construe described, a unit constituting a part of said box vcomprising a bottom, end walls and intervening side walls, one end Wall having apertures adjacent its opposite outer ends and'having its intermediate upper edge formed witha clearance notch, the adjacent ends ofrsaid side walls hav- Ving dowel pin sockets registering withsaid apertures, the remaining end wall beingprovided withY a groove, and a removable glassor equivalent liningfor said box,rsaid lining serving either as anV ash tray, or holder fora deck of cards.

MORLEY SKINNR.

yion of the class Y 

